Tell us a little about yourself and your career.
I work as a background designer mostly in TV. I was raised in the Bay Area and moved down to Los Angeles for college at UCLA and CalArts for animation. My wife also works in animation, and we have an awesome son and two weird dogs.
What challenges have you faced in navigating a career in animation?
Animation is always evolving. When I first entered the industry, it was transitioning from paper to digital. It’s important to pay attention to the changing technology and skills needed to do my job. A good work-life balance with my family is definitely a challenge too, especially this past year working from home.
Who are your inspirations in the field of animation?
I was grateful after a Guild panel to meet Willie Ito. Willie was in the same American Concentration Camp as my father during WWII. I grew up reading his comics and childrens books. I heard stories about the constant storms in the desert that would cover everything in dust. My father talked about using pages from a Sears catalogue to try and seal the gaps in the wooden boards to try and keep it out. Willie would take those pages and make animation flip books. Later I learned that Willie and one of my mentors from CalArts, Corny Cole, were good friends. The scene of Porky and Daffy laughing in Robin Hood Daffy is modeled after the two of them. I love that animation.
What do you hope to accomplish as an artist in the animation industry?
As a background designer I like thinking about places, what kind of people live in them, and why. What makes a place look a certain way and what it feels like to be there. I hope I can help add a bit of authenticity and storytelling to the shows I work on.
What does being in the Union mean to you?
I believe in community work. Community leaders who fought for Japanese American Redress in the ’70s and ’80s were also in organized labor. I am proud to be part of the TAG committees working to improve the lives of our members. Our collective power means having a voice on issues when government and business either fail us or choose to not hear us.
Learn more about Oda at his website.
Follow Oda on at @rogerodart on Instagram.
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